FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots’ string of routs is over. But their winning streak remains alive with help from a stunning kickoff return by 313-pound guard Dan Connolly.

Connolly rumbled 71 yards with what is believed to be the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman in NFL history and Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes as New England defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-27 for their sixth consecutive win Sunday night.

“I’ve never seen anything happen so slow in my life,” Brady said with a laugh. “They won’t be kicking to him anymore, I’ll tell you that.”

The Patriots, who outscored their previous two opponents 81-10, had their hands full even with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers missing the game with a concussion. Matt Flynn threw his first three pro touchdown passes in his place.

The game went down to the final play when Flynn, with the ball at the Patriots’ 15-yard line, lost it when he was sacked by Tully Banta-Cain and Vince Wilfork recovered for New England (12-2).

Green Bay (8-6) trails Chicago (9-4) by 1 1/2 games in the NFC North.

The kickoff return by Connolly, who later left with a head injury, set up Brady’s 2-yard scoring pass to Aaron Hernandez, cutting Green Bay’s lead at halftime to 17-14.

Trailing 27-21, the Patriots scored on Shayne Graham’s 38-yard field goal with 11:05 left in the game and went ahead 31-27 on Brady’s second touchdown pass to Hernandez, a 10-yarder with 7:14 to go.

Brady broke Don Meredith’s record with his seventh straight game with at least two scoring passes and no interceptions. He has now gone nine games without an interception.

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